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456 APPENDIX. was so delicate, and requii-ed such absolute secrecy that, to treat it was like handling dynamite. Note 37. — For the task of supervising and regulating the sup- ply operations going on at Balaclava, the officers selected by Lord Raglan were men of whom he thus writes: 'There has .always ' been an officer of the Quartermaster-General's department at • Balaclava. For a very considei-able time there have been two, ' and these are not to be surpassed in efficiency by any officers in ' the army. Their names are Major Mackenzie and Captain Ross. ' Lieutenant-Colonel Harding, late aide-de-camp to General Pen- ' nefather, is the commandant, and capitally does he do his duty.' — Private letter to Lord Panmure, .3d March 1855. Note 38. — For reasons stated ante, pp. 109, 110, 'chopped ' straw,' in large quantities, could not be conveyed on board ships ; but it is the accustomed food of horses in Turkey. As well might a man suggest for the slaking of a traveller's thirst in the Sahara desert that a pitcher of good Nile water had been seen in Egypt. Note 39. — The objectors to this suggestion were the horsea and cattle. They refused to eat the hay. Endeavours, I believe, were made to render the sea-soaked hay less repulsive, but always in vain. Note 40. — There had long been planks in abundance at Bala- clava (see ante,, pp. 124, 125), but to drag them up to camp and convert them into houses or fuel there was needed draught power and ' hands ' ; and it was for want of drauglit power and ' hands ' that the army languished. Note 41. — Duke of Newcastle to Lord Raglan, 22d December 1854. I look upon that complaint as a choice specimen of the criticism which our people were applying to the subject. If the object had been to throw everything into confusion, the sugges- tion would liave been excellent. The ammunition was wisely kept on board by the special directions of Lord Raglan, as the best way of securing it against risks of explosion. — Lord Raglan to Duke of Newcastle, 0th January 1855. Note 42. — Duke of Newcastle to Lord Raglan, 1st Jan. 1855. The staff officer (General Airey) pleaded guilty to having written three letters to ladies in England — one to his own wife, one to the sister of an officer prostrated by illness, ' who was in great anxiety • about her l)rother,' and another to Lady Raglan, informing her of her Lord's state of health. The fact of the Duke of Newcastle's having listened, without indignation, to such a statement, seem?.